Low Newton in Co Durham is among eight overcrowded British jails named by the Prison Reform Trust.

Campaigners today called for urgent action to reduce the number of women inmates as the female jail population in England and Wales reached record levels.

The trust said the number of women in jail was 4,477 this week, topping last August's highest total by 32.

Director Juliet Lyon said: "Few women offenders present a real risk to the public. For all but the most serious and violent offenders, support and supervision centres in local communities offer the best chance for women offenders to get out of trouble."